Synopsis

Professional actor and the director of *The Station Agent*, Tom McCarthy’s second film, *The Visitor* is a moving piece that serenely presents the awakening of a middle-aged man after his encounter with illegal aliens while quietly critiquing America’s policy on immigrants after 9/11. When Connecticut college professor, Walter returns to his little-used apartment in New York on a trip to attend an academic conference, he discovers two young men whom he had never met residing there to his dismay. Syrian, Tarek and Senegalese, Zainab were illegal aliens conned into renting his apartment. Feeling sorry for the two who had no place to go, he offers them to stay with him on a whim, and the three develop a special friendship. After a long time of living in seclusion after his pianist wife passed away, these two guests bring major change into Walter’s life. Enchanted by the African drum Tarek played, he learns to play the drum from the younger man through which he rekindles a passion he had lost for years. Unfortunately, Tarek is detained at a temporary repatriate reception center after being arrested during a patrol questioning. And as Walter struggles to free the younger man, Tarek’s beautiful mother, Mouna appears in front of him. It is truly a delightful discovery to see a warmhearted film such as *The Visitor* amongst all the recent films filled with murder, violence and hatred. Veteran character actor, Richard Jenkins plays Professor Walter who hides a warm heart behind his expressionless face. His delicate performance in this film already has him mentioned as a Best Actor nominee for the Academy Awards. The film had its US premiere this April on four screens which jumped to 270 screens and is still running with rave reviews. (Chung Woochung)

Director

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  • Tom McCarthy
  • Born in 1966 in New Jersey, USA, Tom McCarthy is an actor and film director. As an actor, he has appeared in films such as *Flags of Our Fathers*, *Syriana*, *Good Night, and Good Luck*, *The Year of the Dog*, and *Meet the Parents*. More recently, he appeared in Peter Jackson's *The Lovely Bones* and Lukas Moodysson's *Mammoth*. He made his directorial debut with *The Station Agent* in 2003, a film he also wrote. The film received significant recognition and awards at major international festivals such as Sundance, San Sebastián, and Stockholm.